As a lifelong Sox fan who has lived in Maryland since 1998 ... I will be going to the game with the wife and kids and we are all going to root like hell for the O's.

Lifelong Sox fan, live 4 miles from OP@CY, can't get myself to go today. I was up in New England last week, and while I was up there I watched my first Sox game in two months, which convinced me I didn't need to see any more.

I see they're starting Zach Stewart today, who was part of the "haul" for Kevin Youkilis.

I see they're starting Zach Stewart today, who was part of the "haul" for Kevin Youkilis.

He's also been traded for Scott Rolen, he must be good!

Nate gets things going.

It's nice to see the Red Sox participate in meaningful baseball this time of the year.

Zach Stewart is one of many data points that have me less than confident in Ben Cherington.

And why does my iPad automatically turn "Zach" into "Zachary?"

Boy, Stewart is already in trouble. HR, single, single. Man on 1B and 3B with no one out.

And by the way it is ####### criminal that this shitbag is wearing Terry Francona's number.

And he HBP's the team's best hitter to load the bases.

The bad news for the Orioles is that the Sox have three games with the Yanks this week.

Not only has 2012 sucked but we've been subjected to Jenny Dell, she is really bad.

The silver lining here is that most of the massive suckage that is the last two months has been by perpetrated people who either aren't going to be wearing a Boston uniform next season and that the people who do figure into the club's medium-term plans - Lester, Buccholz, Pedroia, Ellsbury - have been respectable. Of course that just raises the question of what the plan is to build around the people who do figure into the plans since those four players clearly aren't enough to lead the team to even mediocrity as things now stand.

Another missed sign! What the ####???

At some point I think either Royster is giving the signs wrong or Valentine has made the signs unnecessarily complex.

Well, enjoy first place, Orioles fans. Still can't believe you're there, and hopefully the Sox can do something to help you finish with the division over the next few days.